24axman Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 a stupid ?: What is the difference between the Epiphone custom shop, and a regular Epiphone? I've seen many of them, but do not know what the difference is. Are the set up different? Are they made in the same factories? Are they made by the more experienced luthiers? Are they made to higher tolerences? Are they special editions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 They're made in the same factories, but there are slight differences. It could be anything from a non-standard colour to non-standard hardware (the Casinos with a Bigsby). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copper1281734000 Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 pohatu pretty much said it. It's just a standard epi that doesn't have the same color or has different hardware or electronics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpach10115 Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 I have a few custom shop Epi's. The first thing that I notice about the are the necks/frets. The frets are all very smooth on the custom shop Epis' I have. VERY easy on the hands. Also, the custom shop EPI's I have all have something different about them that you don't find on regular production Epi's. I have a custom shop g400 with factory Emg 81/85 in it. I have an alleykay with a different paint job that a regular kat. I have an epi studio LP in a burgandy color that you can see the wood grain the top coat is so light. Every one is different. they are all unique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan 58 Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 I wonder if that holds true for the limited eds also. Seeing that the iguani burst is a L. E. i'd like to think so Stan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 a stupid ?: What is the difference between the Epiphone custom shop' date=' and a regular Epiphone? I've seen many of them, but do not know what the difference is. Are the set up different? Are they made in the same factories? Are they made by the more experienced luthiers? Are they made to higher tolerences? Are they special editions?[/quote'] No; yes; doubt it; no; yes. A lot of the CS guitars are being made at Unsung... I guess they are better suited to smaller production runs while they are using the EE plant for the regular stuff. I'd be wary of using the term 'luthier' when describing the people that build these guitars. 'assembly line drone' is probably more precise. The main difference is in the duration of the production; usually CS instruments are a 'one off' production event although occasionally a good seller can be re-issued. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpach10115 Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 'assembly line drone' Well said! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layboomo Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 In all honesty the term "custom shop" is a little rediculous when talking about mass produced asian guitars....yeah it's a limited run....limited to several hundred thousand! The only thing custom about it is the CS label on the back of the headstock. Epiphone doesn't have a "custom shop" in the same sense of the word as Gibson or Fender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 No; yes; doubt it; no; yes. A lot of the CS guitars are being made at Unsung... I guess they are better suited to smaller production runs while they are using the EE plant for the regular stuff. I'd be wary of using the term 'luthier' when describing the people that build these guitars. 'assembly line drone' is probably more precise. The main difference is in the duration of the production; usually CS instruments are a 'one off' production event although occasionally a good seller can be re-issued. Agreed on all this, but my Pelham blue G400 is an EE. In the process of selling it. So there are some "custom shop" guitars being made at the EE plant also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesstringer Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 Don't be fooled, Epiphone CS is an oxymoron ! See Layboomo and RotcanX ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 My Pelham blue G400 is an EE. So there are some "custom shop" guitars being made at the EE plant also. Kewl. Thanks for the update. AFAIK those were YEC guitars made originally for the Japanese market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Kewl. Thanks for the update. AFAIK those were YEC guitars made originally for the Japanese market. No problem. Having owned both Gibson and Epiphone SG/400 through the years I agree the EE ones are the best of the Epiphones with the right knob placement, shape and feel. I bought this to make an Elliot Easton, yes I know his has the custom HS and inlays, and put on shallers and burstbuckers but I just don't like them in this guitar and should have gone with 57s. The guitar is down in Danville Il at my buddies store for sale. I never added the Maestro or had the nut changed to graphite just lost interest after not liking the BBs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biff Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Are they made by the more experienced luthiers? lol.. yeah sure... These are authentic photos from the Unsung plant. May be a bit slow to load. Notice the Custom Shop jackets on the people making the Limited Editions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjones200x Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 The last pic in the custom shop shows a LP with a body contour? Ive never seen this before? Mine is flat on the back. Is it a LP? if not then my appologies for being dumb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 It's a Les Paul Ultra or Ultra-II. They have coutoured backs, like a Strat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansmitchell Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 It's a Les Paul Ultra or Ultra-II. They have coutoured backs' date=' [b']like a Strat.[/b] Only insanely better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 a stupid ?: What is the difference between the Epiphone custom shop' date=' and a regular Epiphone? Are they made by the more experienced luthiers? ?[/quote'] When you deal with marketing you have to define experienced vs what. They are probably not lying that the CS stuff is made by the people working there for longer than the guy just hired sweeping floors. Just like Select Spruce = Plywood. It all depends on how you spin it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everdying Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 or spalted maple = rotten maple. chromite = balsa (gibson has used this before in their LP studio lite) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midgetfist Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Those photos make me want to burn my Epi. I wish I had never seen them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubstar Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 "limited to several hundred thousand!" you really think they make that many? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansmitchell Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 "limited to several hundred thousand!" you really think they make that many? 10,000/month. 1 year run. You do the math. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layboomo Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 "limited to several hundred thousand!" you really think they make that many? That's probably an exageration...but let's just say it's a sh!tload of guitars and not a very "limited" run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwl325 Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Those photos make me want to burn my Epi. I wish I had never seen them! ;) Midget, curious, what makes you say that? I only ask because I had just the opposite impression--a lot more hand crafting than I've seen in similar pics from Fender and Rickenbacker plants. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midgetfist Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Midget' date=' curious, what makes you say that? I only ask because I had just the opposite impression--a lot more hand crafting than I've seen in similar pics from Fender and Rickenbacker plants. Bill[/quote'] I've never seen a guitar assembled, and had romantic visions of something akin to a vintage woodworking shop with luthiers that resemble Geppetto... and smoking pipes of course. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layboomo Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I've never seen a guitar assembled' date=' and had romantic visions of something akin to a vintage woodworking shop with luthiers that resemble Geppetto... and smoking pipes of course. Oh well.[/quote'] :^o :^o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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